I'm currently just running a P4 based Shuttle "HTPC" with XBMC but this has started playing up on occasion and is getting a bit long in the tooth, so considering a replacement.

The idea is to replace it with something that will do the XBMC\DVD playing duties initially, but can be built upon to add more functionality. Anybody have any thoughts on the following as a starting point?

Antec NSK2480B 380W (Includes PSU)

AMD A-Series A8-5600K (I would just go with the A6-5400K but can't find info on whether it can do 3D? Mrs and Kids seem keen on 3D since getting a panasonic TV that supports it; I'm not too fussed but it would be a bonus.)

An alternative I'm also looking at is essentially the same system but Intel flavoured, which comes out very slightly cheaper. I assume for just HTPC duties this will do just as well as the AMD system? (including by the looks of it 3D playback) whereas the AMD would be better for gaming if it every came to that (unlikely)

Watch with the NSK2480B, if you decide to run a graphics card later on, some cards (side mount PCI-E) you won’t be able to close the lid, I bought a Silverstone LC17. Buy the ssd, it makes a big difference.

I like the a series chips, precisely because they dont take a discreet video card. Maybe an a4 or a dual core. I've only just replaced an amd 3600 machine that was running fine, but my motherboard started giving me issues and ddr2 ram is expensive.

I was really keen on the A4 initially, but it appears it doesn't support 3D playback; at least according to the AMD site, that's why I bumped up to the a8. I really like the idea of a fairly grunting GPU without the need for discrete card.

Hmmm... but if I swap to a cheap 1155 Celeron + passive cooled HD6450 I can get the price down to $375... Not sure if it'll do everything and would need to check if it'll fit in that case, but might be an option? The mobo would then also support an i3 in the future.

EDIT: Thinking more about this I might just go with the following. At $345 it seems like pretty good value and I can toss in the Bluray drive, TV tuner, SSD at some point in the future and if I really want 3D playback I can add a discrete graphics card that supports it.

sidefx: @Blanch: Thanks; where do you notice the SSD being worth it? Only thing on my current system that I sometimes wish was faster was the bootup which I guess an SSD will help a bunch with.

It will definitely improve boot times quite significantly, however I would also recommend it because it reduces heat generation in smaller cases and its size let me hide it away in corners that traditionally HDD's would fear to tread.If you upgrade to an SSD later on just remember to address the TRIM issue if you're using Windows as your OS.

As long as you are running Windows 7 or above it detects a SSD and modifies its behaviour including being trim aware.

@sidefx go for a GPU that can do the heavy lifting rather then a powerful CPU. A GPU is optimised for the work it does do does it without needing a lot of grunt where as the CPU is not and even a powerful CPU will never do as good a job as a low to average GPU.

@reven: That does look very cool, just the sort of thing I like to run, but doesn't look like it will quite do everything I want(?) Yes DVD playback is somewhat important off the bat, and I'll also be looking to add bluray and PVR functionality at some point in the nearish future. An HTPC just seems more flexible.

@wsnz: Good point, heat and noise are good bonuses with an SSD too; Might be worth doing away with a mechanical drive altogether in that case. Limited size would be the only downside, but I'm guessing if I go for a PVR type setup I could record to a network drive?

@Nety: Understood, though from what I've read the GPU in the AMD Fusion APUs is pretty decent, equal to a low end discrete GPU? So it sounded like a good option.

Nety: As long as you are running Windows 7 or above it detects a SSD and modifies its behaviour including being trim aware.

@sidefx go for a GPU that can do the heavy lifting rather then a powerful CPU. A GPU is optimised for the work it does do does it without needing a lot of grunt where as the CPU is not and even a powerful CPU will never do as good a job as a low to average GPU.

Ive been watching this thread with interest as I'm pricing up a freeview recording HTPC right now. I'd been looking at an i3 on a mobo with an HDMI socket (using integrated graphics) - should I be looking at a video card?

Ive been watching this thread with interest as I'm pricing up a freeview recording HTPC right now. I'd been looking at an i3 on a mobo with an HDMI socket (using integrated graphics) - should I be looking at a video card?

Interested in opinions on this too, but my own research seems to indicate that the integrated graphics on the AMD Fusion's and to a lesser extent the Intel HD Graphics in the i3s are more than enough for most HTPC duties (3D playback is the one to watch out for)

Having said that it looks like Motherboards with HDMI ports are significantly more expensive that one's without ($40 - $50) so it seems to work out cheaper to just go with a cheap mobo\CPU\discrete graphics card combo if you need that HDMI port off the bat.

I'm happy to go for lower upfront costs and continue using a DVI-HDMI adaptor initially then in the future look at a discrete card for ~$60 for 3D playback and HDMI if I feel I need it.

Well, I'm confused at some of the pricing of AMD chips; maybe it's just because the Piledriver based chips are quite new. But after searching a bit it actually appears that a Llano based system might be a best\cheapist option currently.

Apparently an A4-3400 will do the 3D bluray\playback (whereas according to the AMD website Piledriver based chips you require at least an A8 to do it - still very interested in whether this is true seems a bit crazy if it is) and an FM1 motherboard with HDMI 1.4a can be had for $68(!)

This means I could do the following to cover what I want and in theory never need a discrete graphics card for HDMI or 3D...